Theodore c



No. 6|6,954. Patented Jan. 3, I899. T. C. NEEGER.

STATION INDICATOR.

(Application filed Apr. 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE C. NEEGER, OF UTICA, NEW? YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-lIALF TO HARRIS GOLDSTEIN, OF SAME PLACE.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,954, dated January 3, 1899.

Application filed April 8, 1898. Serial No. 676,895. (No model.)

The purpose of the invention is to provide a.

mechanism of simple construction and adapted to be automatically actuated by means of stops located at the required points in the line of railway sufficiently in advance of the station or point to be designated, whereby the traveler may be apprised of the next station or point in time to make arrangement for a quick departure without loss of time in making the stop.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a detail view showing the indicator in operative relation. Fig. 2 is a front view of the indicator, the front of the casing having a portion broken away, so as to show the relation of the working parts. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line X X of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a detail view in section of the bell, showing the means for operating it.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The indicator will be located at a prominent point in the car or vehicle, so as to be under observation of the passengers, and the actuating mechanism will be inclosed in a suitable casin g, which is indicated by the reference-numeral1. This casin g has an observation-opening in its front side which is protected by glass or like material, so as to exclude dust and prevent tampering with the working parts. This observation-opening 2 is located opposite the name-belt 3, which is of suitable material and has imprinted thereon the names of the stations, crossings, and other points of interest to which it may be desired to call the attention of the passenger. An upper roller 4 has one end of the namebelt secured thereto and is provided at its inner end with a bevel gear-wheel 5, which is in mesh with a corresponding pinion 6, secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 7, journaled in bearings at one side of the namebelt and parallel therewith. A companion roller 8 is located below the roller 4 and has the lower end of the name-belt connected thereto, and its journal is extended and provided with a bevel gear-wheel 9, which is in mesh with a bevel-pinion 10, secured to the lower end of the Vertical shaft 7. The rollers 4 and 8 are operated simultaneously and in the same direction, so that as the name-belt is wound upon one roller it unwinds from the other roller. In order to'effect this end, the bevel gear-wheels 5 and 9 mesh with the corresponding pinions 6 and 10 upon opposite sides or at diametrically opposite points, as clearly indicated. The rollers 4 and 8 are flanged at their ends, so as to give proper direction to the name-belt and prevent the edge portions thereof from crowding against the sides of the casing.

The lower gear-wheel 9 is provided with a wrist-pin 11, and a rod 12 connects therewith. This rod 12 extends through an opening in the lower portion of the casing and is adapted to come in contact with a trip 13, located conveniently with reference to the road-bed, so as to impart movement to the actuating mechanismof the indicator and move the name-belt so as 'to bring the name of the next station, crossin g, or other point into position opposite the observation-opening, so as to be read by the passenger. In order to reduce the friction between the rod 12 and the trip 13, a roller 14 is applied to the lower end of said rod and is adapted to engage with and ride upon the trip jury thereto in the event of the car or vehicle being backed. A spring 15 has connection at one end with the casing and at its opposite end with the wrist-pin, andserves to return the rod 12 to a normal position after being actuated by coming in contact with the trip 13..

An alarm-bell 16 is placed withinthe casing opposite the upper roller 4, and its clapper is adapted to be operated by means of a push-rod 17, after the manner of an ordinary call-bell. A rod 18 is attached to or forms a continuation of the vertical shaft 7, and its upper end is bent, as shown at 19, and is adapted to come in contact with the push-rod 17 and sound the gong when the indicator is operated. The bent end portion 19 constitutes in effect a cam, which, coming in contact with the push-rod, moves itinward and sounds the gong.

In practice a trip 13 will be provided for each station, crossing, or other point to which it is desired to attract the attention of the passenger, and these trips will be placed in advance of the station, so as to bring the name of the station into position for obser vation prior to reaching said station, thereby enabling the passenger to prepare for a quick exit, so that no time may be lost unnecessarily in making the stop to permitthe passenger to alight. The rod 12 is moved upward by coming in contact with the trip and is returned to a normal position by the spring 15. During this movement of the rod the rollers 4 and 8 will make a complete revolution, thereby moving the name-belt so as to expose the name of the next station. During the operation of the rod 12 and the movement of the name-belt the vertical shaft 7 will rotate and sound the alarm, thereby attracting the attention of the passengers to v stop to permit the alighting of a passenger.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In an indicator the combination of companion rollers located a distance apart, a name-belt secured at its ends to the said rollers and adapted to wind thereon, a shaft disposed at right angles to the axes of the rollers and parallel with the name-belt and provided at its ends with gear-Wheels, other gearwheels secured to the journals of the rollers and meshing with the gear-wheels of the shaft at relatively diametrically opposite points, a spring-actuated rod having direct eccentric connection with one of the rollers, and a trip arranged in the path of the rod for operating it and the train of connections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an indicator the combination with rollers spaced apart, a name-belt secured to the rollers and adapted to wind thereon, and actuating mechanism for one of the rollers, of a shaft, gearing between said shaft and the aforesaid rollers for simultaneously actuating them, an alarm-bell, and acam orlateral projection applied directly to the aforesaidshaft for operating the alarm-bell, substantially as set forth.

3. In an indicator the combination with rollers located a distance apart, a name-belt seline of motion of the name-belt and in gear with both ofthe rollers, an alarm-bell, and a rod applied directly to the shaft and extendin g in line therewith and having a bent portion for sounding the alarm simultaneously with the movement of the name-belt, substantiallyas andfor the purpose set forth.

4. In an indicatorthe combination of upper and lower rollers, a name-belt secured to the rollers and adapted towind thereon, a vertical shaft, gear-wheels secured to the ends of the shaft, other gear-wheels applied to the journals of the aforesaid rollers and intermeshing with the gear-Wheels of the shaft at relatively diametrically opposite points, a spring-actuated rod having; eccentric connection with the gear-wheel of the lower roller and adapted to be operated by coming in contact with a trip, an alarmebell, and a rod applied to the aforedescribed shaft'and having its upper end bent and adapted to come in contact with the alarm-bell and sound it, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony that I .claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE O. NEEGER.

\Vitnesses H. D. PITOHER, AGNESS G. PEGNIM. 

